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Ivory Coast team news: Predicted 4-3-3 line up vs South Africa – Man Utd ace misses out
IVORY COAST are one of the favourites in this year's Africa Cup of Nations and will hope to get off to a winning start against South Africa.
Africa Cup of Nations: Ivory Coast arrive ahead of clash
The Elephants boast a team packed full of attacking talent including Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha and Arsenal transfer target Nicolas Pepe.
Coach Ibrahim Kamara has overseen a changing of the guard in the national side after an ageing squad were knocked out in the group stage of the 2017 AFCON and failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
The 2015 champions are now a more exciting, dynamic outfit but will be without the services of Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly due to injury.
The 25-year-old is back in light training after a serious knee injury but was not fit enough to be included in the tournament squad and will have to watch his compatriots against South Africa from the stands.
There are several other familiar names who do make the expected starting XI with Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier likely to get the nod in a traditional back four.
Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri should partner AC Milan ace Franck Kessie in the engine room while the pair could be joined by Serey Die if Kamara opts for a three-man unit.
In attack, former Swansea, Manchester City and Stoke striker Wilfried Bony is likely to lead the line despite currently being without a professional club.
Ivory Coast previously relied on Kolo and Yaya Toure to provide a steely spine in their squad but are expected to turn to Wilfried Kanon and Ismael Traore in central defence.
Wonlo Coulibaly will start at left-back while goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo is ahead of Ali Badra and Tape Ira in the pecking order.
English fans will be familiar with Jonathan Kodjia and Max Gradel as options off the bench while Lyon star Maxwel Cornet is also an explosive option.
However, there was no space for former Arsenal and Roma winger Gervinho in the squad despite an impressive campaign with Parma in Serie A.
Ivory Coast head into the match on the back of a 3-1 win over Comoros in a warm-up match on Friday and should have too much for South Africa, who are currently ranked 72nd in the World.
Ivory Coast predicted line-up vs South Africa – Africa Cup of Nations
(4-3-3): Gbohouo; Aurier, Kanon, Traore, Coulibaly; Die, Seri, Kessie; Pepe, Zaha, Bony